News

What Effect Can Better Cattle Tracking Systems Have?

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Improving traceability can have a positive knock on effect on animal health and food safety, says the Department of Agriculture.

This comes after the launch of the government’s new Bovine Traceability Unit which is aiming to reduce crime in the cattle sector.

The programme requires three preliminary stages to occur in order to work; recording farms and farmers, electronically chipping the animal and third is the imposition of controls on movement of the animal around the country.

Dr Bolivar Toribio Veras, Chief Executive Officer of Livestock at the ministry of agriculture said that the programme will generate consumer confidence in beef.

Mr Veras said: "Right now we are raising awareness among farmers to know the advantages of having this system in their herds.

“One benefit of this system is that, by placing an electronic chip in the animal's ear, the calf then becomes trackable and the origin of the animal known via an electronic reader, this will result in a significant reduction in theft, illegal sale and purchase of cattle."